Automatic Berths into Breeders' Cup World Championships at Stake on Saturday in Greenwood Cup and A Gleam Stakes
NEW YORK – (July 13, 2012) – Two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will be on tap tomorrow on opposite coasts as “Win and You’re In” starting positions will be contested at Parx Racing outside Philadelphia in the grade III Greenwood Cup for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, and in the grade II A Gleam Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park for a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a global series of 73 stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held on Nov. 2-3 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
If the Greenwood Cup winner is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by Oct. 22, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees to start in the 1 ¾ mile Marathon and provide the stable a $10,000 travel allowance to California for the Championships.
Opening as the even money favorite Saturday is Jay Em Ess Stable's Redeemed. The 4 year-old Include colt is coming off consecutive romps, first winning the $90K Milesius Stakes at nine furlongs by nine and three quarter lengths and then going gate to wire and an overwhelming 10 length win in the G2 Brooklyn Handicap June 6th at Belmont Park. He dominated both races with his speed and is expected to be on or near the lead again. He was outstanding throughout his 3 year-old season winning 5 times with 2 seconds from 7 starts. He won the Ohio Derby and the G3 Discovery Handicap and was second in the G2 Amsterdam before opening 2012 with a solid third in the G1 Donn Handicap. Ramon Dominguez will come in to ride for Rick Dutrow.
Oaklawn Park's long distance specialist Win Willy is the second choice at 3-1. The 6 year-old son of Monarchos, racing for the Jer-Mar Stable and trainer McLean Robertson, Win Willy boasts 8 career victories and over $867,000 in earnings, the most in the field. His signature win in 2011 came in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap when he rallied from his usual spot at the tail of the field to get up and win by a length. He's come east this spring, running second in the $50K Joseph French Memorial before winning the $50K Cape Henlopen Stakes, both at Delaware Park. Alex Cintron has been named to ride.
Last year's Greenwood winner, Preston Stables' Birdrun returns to defend. He was awarded the victory after A.U. Miner was disqualified and has also used his speed to best advantage. Prior to the 2011 Greenwood Cup, he wired the field in the G2 Brooklyn beating eventual Breeders Cup Classic winner, Drosselmeyer. He ran second in the 2011 G2 Breeders Cup Marathon, was second behind Redeemed in the recent Milesius and then lost all chance in the recent Brooklyn when jockey Rajiv Maragh lost an iron at the break.
From the rail out with jockeys and morning line odds, the field is: Reedemed, Ramon Dominguez, 1-1; Hello Lover, Angel Suarez, 12-1; Birdrun, Irad Ortiz, 5-1; Eldaafer, Angel Orroyo, 6-1; Not Abroad, Nicholas Petro, 10-1; Eversoul, Jose Caraballo, 20-1; Win Willy, Alex Cintron, 3-1; Doubllethestyle, Shannon Uske, 30-1.
- Edited from Parx Racing release
Baffert Pair leads A Gleam
Like the Greenwood Cup winner, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fee of the $200,000 A Gleam (GII) winner and provide at $10,000 travel allowance to Santa Anita for the first place finisher to run in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at 7 furlongs.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the A Gleam for the first time a year ago when Irish Gypsy edged Ultra Blend, will send out a pair – American Lady and Glamorista – in search of a repeat. Owned by Kaleem Shah, American Lady, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Stormy Atlantic and the Rubiano mare Comfort Zone, comes off a win as the 9-10 favorite in the restricted Reminiscing Stakes June 1. The win was the second in three races over Cushion Track – she was second in her loss - for American Lady. She’s 3-for-6 overall with earnings of $133,866.
Glamorista has the same record at Betfair Hollywood Park while winning three of five lifetime. The 5-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song and the Dr. Blum mare Critical Crew has banked $113,500 for Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable.
Grade I winners Switch and Teddy’s Promise will try to rebound after subpar performances in the Desert Stormer Handicap June 17. Trained by John Sadler for Lee and Susan Searing’s C R K Stable, Switch was fourth in the Desert Stormer, extending her losing streak to eight. Winner of the 2010 La Brea and 2011 Santa Monica in succession, the 5-year-old daughter of Quiet American and the Nicholas mare Antoniette hasn’t won since taking the Santa Monica by 3 ½ lengths well over 16 months ago.
Part of the exacta in five of six races over Cushion Track, Switch has won five of 20 lifetime and earned $1,242,562. Sadler is seeking his third A Gleam victory in five years. The trainer won back-to-back with Dearest Trickski (2008) and Evita Argentina (2009).
Teddy’s Promise, who won the 2011 La Brea at 16-1, was fifth in the Desert Stormer, six weeks after a last-to-first victory in the Time To Leave Stakes. Trained by Ron Ellis for owner-breeders Ted and Judy Nichols, the 4-year-old California bred daughter of Salt Lake and the Capote mare Braids and Beads has won six of 16 and banked $414,681. Four of her wins have come in seven starts over Cushion Track.
Second behind Turbulent Descent in the Desert Stormer, Izzy Rules will be aiming for the most significant win of her career. Trained by Jeff Bonde for owners George and Mary Clare Schmitt, the daughter of Peace Rules and the Dayjur mare Da Dance has won seven of 20 and earned $257,683.
The only graded win for the Florida bred came earlier this year when she dominated five opponents as the 13-10 favorite in the Grade III Las Flores March 11 at Santa Anita. Winless in three synthetic efforts, Mildly Offensive also exits the Desert Stormer. The Sharp Humor filly out of the Personal Flag mare It’s Personal finished third for owner Warren B. Williamson and trainer Carla Gaines. The 4-year-old has won three of nine and has a bankroll of $191,826.
Sugarinthemorning cuts back and changes surfaces after finishing second as the 7-10 favorite in the grassy Fran’s Valentine Stakes May 20. Trained by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally for owner-breeder Stephen B. Weissmann, Sugarinthemorning is a California bred daughter of Candy Ride and the In Excess mare Social Belle. She’s earned $386,684 while winning five of 15.
From inside out, the field for the 58th A Gleam Handicap with jockeys and morning line odds: Mildly Offensive, Joe Talamo, 12-1; Glamorista, Chantal Sutherland, 15-1; Switch, Garrett Gomez, 5-2; Teddy’s Promise, Victor Espinoza 7-2; American Lady, Rafael Bejarano, 3-1; Izzy Rules, Edwin Maldonado, 7-2 and Sugarinthemorning, Martin Garcia, 8-1.
- Edited from Betfair Hollywood Park release
